Nemesia plant named ‘Nespluscred’

ABSTRACT

A new cultivar of  Nemesia  plant named ‘Nespluscred’ that is characterized by good high temperature tolerance, red flowers, profuse flowering and a semi-trailing habit.

Botanical classification: Nemesia hybrida.

Variety denomination: ‘Nespluscred’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Nemesiaplant botanically known as Nemesia hybrida and hereinafter referred toby the cultivar name ‘Nespluscred’.

The new Nemesia is the product of a planned breeding program conductedby the inventor in Gensingen, Germany. The objective of the breedingprogram is to create new Nemesia cultivars with unique flower colors andimproved high temperature tolerance.

‘Nespluscred’ is a hybrid that originated from a crossing in the Summerof 2003 of the female or seed parent a proprietary Nemesia identified asNeb Kirschrot I (not patented) and the male or pollen parent aproprietary Nemesia identified as White Dream I tet 7 (not patented).The resulting seeds were subsequently planted and grown. The cultivar‘Nespluscred’ was selected by the inventor in the Spring of 2004 as asingle plant within the progeny of the stated cross in Gensingen,Germany.

Asexual reproduction of the new cultivar ‘Nespluscred’ first occurred byterminal cuttings in July of 2004 in Gensingen, Germany. Since thattime, under careful observation, the unique characteristics of the newcultivar have been uniform, stable and reproduced true to type insuccessive generations of asexual reproduction.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The following represent the distinguishing characteristics of the newNemesia cultivar ‘Nespluscred’. These traits in combination distinguish‘Nespluscred’ as a new and distinct cultivar apart from other existingknown varieties of Nemesia.

-   -   1. Nemesia ‘Nespluscred’ exhibits good high temperature        tolerance.    -   2. Nemesia ‘Nespluscred’ exhibits red flowers.    -   3. Nemesia ‘Nespluscred’ exhibits profuse continuous flowering.    -   4. Nemesia ‘Nespluscred’ exhibits a semi-trailing habit.        The closest comparison cultivars are Nemesia ‘Nesplugoyel’ (U.S.        Plant patent application Ser. No. 12/927,998) and Nemesia        ‘Inntraired’ (not patented).

‘Nespluscred’ is distinguishable from Nemesia ‘Nesplugoyel’ by thefollowing characteristics:

-   -   1. ‘Nespluscred’ has red flowers. The flowers of ‘Nesplugoyel’        are yellow. ‘Nespluscred’ is distinguishable from ‘Inntraired’        by the following characteristics:    -   1. ‘Nespluscred’ exhibits a less trailing habit.    -   2. ‘Nespluscred’ has smaller flowers than ‘Inntraired’.    -   3. ‘Nespluscred’ has lighter red flowers than ‘Inntraired’.    -   4. ‘Nespluscred’ has better high temperature tolerance than        ‘Inntraired’.

‘Nespluscred’ is distinguishable from the female or seed parent NemesiaNeb Kirschrot I by the following characteristics:

-   -   1. ‘Nespluscred’ has smaller flowers.    -   2. ‘Nespluscred’ has smaller leaves.    -   3. ‘Nespluscred’ has a semi-trailing habit. Neb Kirschrot I has        an upright habit.    -   4. ‘Nespluscred’ has better high temperature tolerance.

‘Nespluscred’ is distinguishable from the male or pollen parent NemesiaWhite Dream I tet 7 by the following characteristics:

-   -   1. ‘Nespluscred’ has red flowers. The flowers of White Dream I        tet 7 are white.    -   2. ‘Nespluscred’ exhibits a larger number of branches.    -   3. ‘Nespluscred’ exhibits more vigorous growth.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

The accompanying photograph illustrates the distinguishing traits ofNemesia ‘Nespluscred’. The plant in the photograph shows an overall viewof a 20 week old plant. The photograph was taken using conventionaltechniques and although colors may appear different from actual colorsdue to light reflectance it is as accurate as possible by conventionalphotographic techniques.

BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION OF THE PLANT

The following is a detailed description of the new Nemesia cultivarnamed ‘Nespluscred’. Data was collected in Gensingen, Germany from 20week old glass greenhouse grown plants in 12 cm. diameter containers.The time of year was Summer and the temperature range was 16-35 degreesCentigrade during the day and 12-16 degrees Centigrade at night. Thelight level was natural light. No photoperiodic treatments or growthretardants were used. Color determinations are in accordance with TheRoyal Horticultural Society Colour Chart 2007 edition, except wheregeneral color terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used. Thegrowing requirements are similar to the species. ‘Nespluscred’ has notbeen tested under all possible conditions and phenotypic differences maybe observed with variations in environmental, climatic, and culturalconditions, however, without any variance in genotype.

-   Botanical classification: Nemesia hybrida ‘Nespluscred’.-   Annual or perennial: Annual.-   Parentage: ‘Nespluscred’ is the product of the female or seed parent    Nemesia Neb Kirschrot I and the male or pollen parent Nemesia White    Dream I tet 7.-   Vigor: Strong.-   Growth habit: Semi-trailing/prostrate.-   Plant shape: Spreading, bushy.-   Suitable container size: 12 cm. pots.-   Height: 20 cm. in height.-   Width: 15 cm. in width.-   Low temperature tolerance: 0° Centigrade.-   High temperature tolerance: 40° Centigrade.-   Propagation: Terminal cuttings.-   Time to initiate roots in summer: 10 to 12 days to initiate roots at    18 to 20° Centigrade.-   Time to initiate roots in winter: 14 to 16 days to initiate roots at    16° Centigrade.-   Time to produce a rooted cutting or liner in summer 10 to 12 days at    16 to 18° Centigrade.-   Time to produce a rooted cutting or liner in winter: 18 to 20 days    at 16° Centigrade.-   Crop time: Approximately 6 to 8 weeks.-   Root system: Fine and fibrous.-   Stem:    -   -   Branching habit.—Lateral branches grow from every            non-flowering axil.        -   Basal branching.—Yes.        -   Average number of lateral branches: 4 to 6.        -   Pinching.—Yes.        -   Lateral branch dimensions.—7 mm. in diameter and 8 to 12 cm.            in length.        -   Internode length.—15 to 22 mm.        -   Stem shape.—Square with ridges at the corners.        -   Stem strength.—Very strong.        -   Stem color.—138C.        -   Pubescence.—Absent.-   Foliage:    -   -   Leaf arrangement.—Opposite.        -   Compound or single.—Single.        -   Number of leaves per lateral branch.—6.        -   Leaf shape.—Lanceolate.        -   Leaf apex.—Acuminate.        -   Leaf base.—Attenuate.        -   Leaf dimensions.—20 cm. in length and 7 cm. in width.        -   Texture.—Glabrous on both surfaces.        -   Pubescence.—None.        -   Leaf margin.—Serrated.        -   Venation pattern.—Simple.        -   Young leaf color (upper surface).—N137B.        -   Young leaf color (lower surface).—138D.        -   Mature leaf color (upper surface).—N137A.        -   Mature leaf color (lower surface).—137C.        -   Vein color (upper surface).—137B.        -   Vein color (under surface).—137D.        -   Leaf attachment.—Sessile.        -   Durability of foliage to stress.—High.-   Flower:    -   -   Inflorescence arrangement.—Raceme.        -   Inflorescence dimensions.—15 cm. in height and 2 cm. in            width.        -   Quantity of flowers per inflorescence.—3 to 5.        -   Flower type.—Zygomorphic.        -   Flowering habit.—Apical in succession.        -   Quantity of flowers per lateral stem.—3 to 5.        -   Quantity of flower buds per lateral stem.—3.        -   Quantity of flowers and buds per plant.—Average 150.        -   Natural flowering season.—April to October.        -   Time to flower.—5 weeks.        -   Rate of flower opening.—Every 4 to 6 days.        -   Fragrance.—Slight.        -   Flower bud length.—5 mm.        -   Flower bud diameter.—2.5 mm. in diameter.        -   Flower bud shape.—Ovate.        -   Bud color.—4D.        -   Rate of bud opening.—3 days.        -   Flower aspect.—Outward/upright.        -   Flower shape.—Zygomorphic.        -   Flower dimensions.—17 to 22 mm. in diameter and 20 to 22 mm.            in height.        -   Flower longevity.—3-5 days.        -   Number of petals.—5.        -   Fused or unfused.—Fused.        -   Petal arrangement.—4 upper petal lobes and two lower petal            lobes fused into a lip.        -   Upper petal lobes shape.—Rounded.        -   Lower petal lobes shape.—Spathulate.        -   Petal texture.—Smooth on both surfaces (upper and lower            lobes).        -   Upper petal lobes margin.—Rounded.        -   Lower petal lobes margin.—Slightly undulate.        -   Petal apex.—Obtuse (upper and lower lobes).        -   Petal base.—Fused (upper and lower lobes).        -   Upper petal lobes dimensions.—10 mm. in length and 19 mm. in            width.        -   Lower petal lobes dimensions.—13 mm. in length and 15 mm. in            width.        -   Petal color when opening (upper side, upper and lower            lobes).—46B.        -   Petal color when opening (under side, upper and lower            lobes).—54A.        -   Petal color fully opened (upper side, upper and lower            lobes).—46A.        -   Petal color fully opened (under side, upper and lower            lobes).—54A.        -   Palate color (lower petal).—33B.        -   Basal blotch color (upper petal lobes only).—53A.        -   Petal vein color (upper petal lobes only).—53A.        -   Petal color fading to (upper and lower lobes).—53C.        -   Palate pubescence.—Covered with short dense hairs.        -   Nectar spur dimensions.—4 mm. in length and 1.5 mm. in            width.        -   Nectar spur color.—49C.        -   Self-cleaning or persistent.—Self-cleaning.-   Sepals:    -   -   Sepal arrangement.—Fused to calyx.        -   Number of sepals.—5.        -   Sepal shape.—Lanceolate.        -   Sepal margin.—Pubescent.        -   Sepal apex.—Acuminate.        -   Sepal base.—Fused.        -   Sepal dimensions.—3 mm. in length and 1 mm. in width.        -   Young sepal color (upper side).—136B.        -   Young sepal color (under side).—136B.        -   Mature sepal color (upper side).—136B.        -   Mature sepal color (under side).—136B.-   Calyx:    -   -   Calyx shape.—Lyriform.        -   Calyx dimensions.—4 mm. in length and 2 mm. in diameter.-   Pedicel:    -   -   Pedicel length.—15 mm.        -   Pedicel texture.—Pubescent with glandular hairs.        -   Pedicel color.—138A.-   Peduncle:    -   -   Peduncle dimensions.—20 mm. in length and 1 mm. in diameter.        -   Peduncle angle.—30 degrees from stem.        -   Peduncle strength.—Moderate.        -   Peduncle color.—136B.-   Reproduction organs:    -   -   Stamen number.—5.        -   Anther shape.—Oval.        -   Anther size.—0.5 mm.        -   Anther color.—4B.        -   Amount of pollen.—Low.        -   Pollen color.—4B.        -   Pistil number.—1.        -   Pistil length.—1.5 mm.        -   Stigma shape.—Dentate.        -   Stigma color.—140C.        -   Style length.—1 mm.        -   Style color.—104C.        -   Ovary color.—104C.-   Fruit: None, sterile triploid.-   Disease and pest resistance: Disease and pest resistance has not    been observed.

1. A new and distinct variety of Nemesia plant named ‘Nespluscred’ asdescribed and illustrated.